The city of Ostrava, in the Czech Republic, hosted from April 28 to May 2, 2025 the in-person component of the Blended Intensive Program (BIP) “Industrial Past, Sustainable Future: Pathways to a Greener Tomorrow”, organized by VSB – Technical University of Ostrava.

This innovative program proposes a week of reflection and learning about the challenges of the transition to a more sustainable society, using the region's industrial heritage as a starting point for building more ecological and sustainable solutions. With a multidisciplinary approach, BIP brought together students and professionals from environmental sciences, engineering, social sciences and health, promoting a rich dialogue between different areas of knowledge.

ISEL was present at this BIP with a group of students from the DEETC and DEQ departments, namely: Carolina Almeida, Carolina Coelho, Cecília Marino, Diogo Silva, Renata Castalheira and Rui Salteiro, accompanied by professors Nuno Datia and António Serrador. Portuguese participation actively contributed to the discussions and proposed activities, reinforcing ISEL's commitment to international cooperation and sustainability.

Throughout the week, participants had access to seminars, workshops and technical visits, exploring topics such as the reconversion of industrial areas, renewable energy, environmental public health and sustainable innovation.

The BIP “Industrial Past, Sustainable Future” is part of the European effort to promote academic exchange and joint training on crucial topics for the future of the planet, contributing to the creation of knowledge and action networks between higher education institutions and their partners.